Device and method for detecting and preprocessing vehicle, traffic and/or driver related data

ABSTRACT

A device and a method of detecting and preprocessing vehicle data, traffic data, and/or driver data, such as the speed, direction of travel, engine condition, weather conditions, heart rate, etc., is described, in which the time and location of recording the data are also recorded in addition to the data mentioned. The position determination may be accomplished in particular by a positioning system such as GPS. The position may be adjusted using a digital map. The recorded data is preferably preprocessed in real time ( 4 ), coded, and/or compressed and/or subjected to a statistical analysis ( 5 ), linked mathematically/logically ( 6 ) and recorded and/or transmitted ( 7 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of detecting and preprocessing vehicle data, traffic data and/or driver data, in which data pertaining to the vehicle, the traffic situation, and the driver is compiled during a trip, preprocessed and made available for further analysis, as well as a device for implementing such a method.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Methods of data acquisition and data processing in a vehicle are known. Such a data acquisition method may be used, for example, to prepare warnings for the driver of a vehicle. With such systems, variables derived from several original variables can also be generated. However, there are no known methods in which the data is recorded as a function of time and location and this information is taken into account in processing the data. However, it has become increasingly important to acquire the greatest possible number of relevant variables, i.e., those appearing to be relevant, and the changes in such variables in order to thereby be able to compile more extensive statistics regarding individual driving performance as a function of environmental and vehicular states and/or changes therein. However, recording all variables for possible subsequent analysis results in enormous volumes of data, even in the case of rough time discretization, thus compromising both the efficacy of storage as well as the efficacy of the subsequent analysis.

EXPLANATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION, OBJECT, IMPLEMENTATION, ADVANTAGES

[0003] The object of the present invention was therefore to make available a method and a device for acquisition and preprocessing of vehicle data, traffic data and/or driver data, so that all data relevant for an analysis of driving performance is compiled without generating unreasonably large volumes of data.

[0004] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a device having the features of claim 5.

[0005] This method is characterized in that the time and location of data acquisition are also compiled along with the data pertaining to the vehicle, the traffic situation, and the driver. In this way it is possible to correlate the data pertaining to the vehicle, the traffic situation, or the driver with a specific point in time and a specific location on the trip route, which permits a differentiated analysis of the data, including data reduction by derivation of variables of interest and by determination of correlations. Due to the unique correlation between time and location, it is also possible to exchange time and location as the underlying variables and thereby reduce the volume of data to be recorded.

[0006] According to claim 2, data processing is preferably performed by developing long-term statistics, short-term statistics and/or by data compression. In short-term statistics, a set of integral parameters that are variable over time is recorded using data reduction. An example of this is recording the velocity or acceleration of a vehicle as a function of time and/or location. In the case of long-term statistics, certain data sets may be updated constantly by true integration without any interest in the time characteristic in detail. Examples of such variables include the filling levels of fuel, windshield wiper fluid, oil, and the like. It is also possible to record the actual curve of numerous variables through suitable compression methods, which are loss-free under some circumstances. Methods of data compression are known and make use of the fact that a data stream determined by measurement generally has regularities (e.g., constancy) which allow compressed storage of the data.

[0007] Furthermore, it is possible through suitable mathematical and/or logic links between different data to obtain derived variables, which are the object of actual interest. After determining these variables, the original data on which they are based may then be deleted, under some circumstances yielding considerable savings in storage space. One example of a derived variable is the risk of slippery ice, which is derived from linking the outside temperatures with wheel slip.

[0008] The detection and processing of data are performed according to claim 3, preferably based on a given person, i.e., in particular the driver of the vehicle. To this end, the driver is to be identified so that the data thus recorded may be assigned to that driver. With person-specific processing, individual behavior patterns in driving may be determined. These behavior patterns may then be used in other systems such as navigation systems to adapt them on a user-specific basis.

[0009] In addition, according to claim 4, the data thus compiled is advantageously correlated with a digital map. A direct database reference to the objects contained in the map may be provided. For example, the speed and absolute and/or relative frequency with which a driver drives on certain sections of road or different types of road (highway, interstate, freeway, etc.) may be noted in the digital map. It is also conceivable for biometric data of the driver to be correlated with sections of road or types of roads in order to ascertain which of these constitute a stress situation for the driver. There is in turn advantageously a link between data acquisition and a navigation system so that the information thus obtained may be made accessible to the navigation system for intelligent route planning.

[0010] The present invention also concerns according to claim 5 a device for detecting and preprocessing vehicle data, traffic data, and/or driver data, containing sensors for sampling data based on the vehicle, the traffic situation, and/or the driver, as well as processing units and memory units for the recorded data. This device is characterized in that it includes a clock and a position sensor for recording the time and location simultaneously with the aforementioned data. With this device, it is possible to implement the method described above with the advantage of an efficient and relevant determination of the driver's performance. A positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System) is suitable as the position sensor; GPS allows vehicle data and traffic data related to the absolute geographic location to be recorded (geographic coordinates with the corresponding inaccuracy). When the device is equipped with an autonomous navigation system (having its own digital map), it is possible to refine the position determination, i.e., make it more specific to the extent that it is possible to acquire the data with an increased accuracy with respect to the exact map position.

[0011] This device may preferably be provided as part of an automobile. However, it is not limited to this application and it may also detect different types of traffic behavior. For example, people may use this device to compile their own route statistics and route data recording in public transit. Similarly, operators of local mass transit may use such a device to obtain data regarding capacity utilization and control of traffic facilities. In addition, this device may also be used independently of persons, e.g., in tracking parcels and generating integrated statistics.

BEST MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is explained in greater detail below with the help of the FIGURE as an example. The single illustration shows a block diagram of the method according to the present invention.

[0013] The signal flows in a device according to the present invention, which is situated in an automobile, are represented by arrows in the FIGURE. The data thus transferred is multicomponent data, i.e., of a vectorial nature. The vehicle data of interest is made available via vehicle sensors from block element 1. This data includes in particular the time and a location determination, which may be provided with the help of a GPS system with reference to a digital map.

[0014] From the block labeled as 2, the driver's data and/or other quasi-static parameters are added to and combined with the vehicle data in summation element 3. This results in a continuous, mixed analog-digital data stream, which is subsequently sent for realtime preprocessing 4. This data is compiled over a period of time, i.e., the point in time of its determination is recorded and retained together with the data. The following data may be considered in particular for acquisition in tracking an automobile:

[0015] map position, i.e., geographic coordinates;

[0016] distance traveled (absolute value, kilometer reading);

[0017] elevation above sea level;

[0018] speed of the vehicle;

[0019] acceleration of the vehicle;

[0020] direction of travel;

[0021] engine rotational speed;

[0022] engine data, such as temperature, operating readiness, warning states;

[0023] transmission shifting states;

[0024] turning a corner;

[0025] switch states of windshield wipers, lights, flashing lights, hazard lights;

[0026] emergency deployment of the airbag;

[0027] antilock brake system, traction control;

[0028] instantaneous fuel consumption;

[0029] filling levels of fuel, windshield wiper fluid, oil, brake fluid and service fluids;

[0030] noise levels, etc.

[0031] Environmental data that is recordable includes in particular the temperature, atmospheric humidity, brightness, weather conditions, and the like. Biodata on the driver and/or passengers of the vehicles may include heart rate, respiration, temperature, eye activity, etc. In addition, the driver, passengers of the vehicle, and/or the vehicle may be identified and unambiguously correlated with the measured data.

[0032] Complete digitization of the incoming data is performed in unit 4 for real time preprocessing. Depending on the change in incoming variables over time, as well as external data supplied on the part of driver's module 2, the sampling rate is also established in unit 4, i.e., the sampling frequency for the data to be compiled. In addition, separate parameters are output in vector form and used to control the downstream coding and statistics unit 5 and logic unit 6.

[0033] Unit 5 receives the completely digitized data from preprocessing unit 4 and accepts its component-by-component coding and/or compression and/or derivation of statistical variables (short-term statistics/long-term statistics). The parameters of unit 5 are controlled by preprocessing unit 4 during processing.

[0034] Processing unit 5 transfers the processed data to logic unit 6, where the data is linked mathematically and/or logically. New variables may be formed in this way. For example, the risk of slippery ice may be ascertained as the result of outdoor temperatures below 0° C. and a great wheel slip. It is of course also possible to simply pass the variables through in unit 6 if they are not to undergo any processing.

[0035] The variables made available by unit 6 finally go to recording unit 7, which assumes the function of storage and/or forwarding of the time-dependent variables as well as of the quasi-static integral variables.

[0036] The parameters may be processed as variables in processing units 5 and 6. In particular the parameters of time resolution, statistics and coding may be designed as variables based on the person, the situation, and/or context and/or they may be controlled during a trip. The required controlled variables are obtained in preprocessing unit 4, where instantaneous driving data is analyzed in uncompressed and closely sampled form before being processed further/stored in real time.

[0037] By linking the data mathematically and logically in unit 6, it is possible to determine variables which are derived during travel, i.e., in real time, and thus to reduce the data stream. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of detecting and preprocessing vehicle data, traffic data, and/or driver data, in which data pertaining to the vehicle, the traffic situation, and the driver is compiled during a trip, preprocessed and made available for further analysis, wherein the time and location of recording the data are also recorded along with the recorded data.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data processing is performed by developing long-term statistics, short-term statistics and/or by data compression.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein data acquisition is performed in a person-specific, in particular driver-specific, manner.
 4. The method as recited in one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the data detected is correlated with a digital map, preferably by linking the data acquisition with a navigation system.
 5. A device for acquisition and preprocessing of vehicle data, traffic data, and/or driver data, containing sensors (1, 2) for sampling data based on the vehicle, traffic, and/or driver, as well as containing processing units (4, 5, 6) and memory units (7) for the data recorded, wherein it contains a clock as well as a position sensor for recording the time and location along with the other data. 